Updated 5:45pm
Brendan Shanahan is in way over his head at the Department of Player Safety.
How does John Scott get a 7 game suspension when he's never been suspended before, nor fined in his NHL career?
Scott is a first time offender, yet the NHL is treating him like he has a miles-long rap sheet.
John Scott should, and likely will opt to appeal this ridiculous suspension.
The penalty certainly is excessive.
Scott admitted his wrong doing and he immediately sent a text apology to Loui Eriksson the night of the incident for the shoulder to the head that caused a concussion for the Boston winger. The next day, Scott apologized again and said that he's not that kind of player. Guess the NHL thinks that Scott was faking his sincerity too, eh?
Scott deserves 5 games MAX for the Eriksson hit.
You mean to tell me that a multi-time offender like Max Lapierre gets a softer sentence than Scott?
Cody McLeod got 5 games for smoking Nik Kronwall.
Ryan Garbutt got only 5 games for crushing Dustin Penner's head
Say what you want about John Scott teasing and terrorizing Phil Kessel in Toronto in late September. How many games was Scott suspended for that sham? None. How many dollars was Scott fined for making Kessel soil his under garments? None.
The NHLPA has a real challenge on its hands right now. Scott pays his PA dues just like the other 720+ players in the players association. The NHLPA was created to look after the rights of all of the players in the NHL, not just some.
In the days to come, it will be interesting and telling to see if the players' union will sit idly by a watch one of its members get unjustly reprimanded for a first time offense. Or, if they will get behind Scott and support him in an appeal process.
Scott has been profiled by the suits at the NHL office ever since Phil Kessel decided to perform felony assault with a weapon on the 6'8 270 pound enforcer that fateful night in Toronto. Kessel got a chintzy 5 preseason game suspension, er, vacation. Kessel teammate David Clarkson served a ten game suspension for jumping off the bench to defend Kessel's cowardly attack on Scott with a hockey stick.
Scott has a week to decide whether or not he will appeal this 7 game suspension, of which he has already served three games.
His teammate Pat Kaleta appealed his 10 game suspension and last week,however, NHL Commisioner Gary Bettman upheld Shanahan's ruling.
Kaleta opted to
NOT have his case heard by an independent arbitrator in order to have his suspension reduced. Kaleta is a multi-time offended and likely realized that he would not have been able to sway the independent arbitrator to lower the games of his suspension.
On the other hand, Scott has a legitimate reason to appeal the 7 game suspension. I think that if he does, Bettman would likely uphold Shanahan's 7 game ruling which would set up the first ever appeal to the independent arbitrator.
One wonders if the NHLPA want to set a precedent by appealing a tough guy's suspension, or, if it would rather pick its fights more wisely and wait for a "higher profile" player to make an appeal for.
What are your thoughts?
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Colorado Avalanche head coach
Patrick Roy met with the media after practice on Thursday.
He announced the Max Talbot-Steve Downie trade.
He also discussed the team's position in the Semyon Varlamov incident.
Thanks, Avalanche TV
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While we await updates from the John Scott disciplinary hearing in NYC, here's what's happening:
Matt Moulson likens his first few days on the job in Buffalo to the early days in his Islanders career.
“ We all were kind of growing together and getting better together. That’s tough, but you get over it pretty quickly I think”, Moulson said.
“The young guys here (Buffalo) are much like when I first went to the Islanders, a lot of energetic guys, enthusiastic about playing in the NHL, wanting to learn and get better. I love being in situations like that and I love talking. So, sharing my experiences that I’ve had so with these guys, its been fun so far”.
Source: ESPN NY
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Matt Moulson has had quite the past four and a half days.
Having never been traded before in his NHL career, Moulson's life has been a blur since the trade for Thomas Vanek delivered him to Buffalo.
Moulson was traded Sunday night from the NY Islanders to the Buffalo Sabres.
On Monday, Moulson arrived in Buffalo for the 10:30 am morning skate, having been awake since 4am that morning. He had to pack a bag and get the to the airport for his quick flight to Buffalo. After Monday's skate, Moulson got to know his new teammates and got a meal. Then, it was back to the rink around 4pm Monday to get ready for the Dallas Stars game.
Moulson scored two goals, the first on his first shot as a Sabre on his second shift of the game at 3:26 of the first period.
Thanks, Sabres.com
The Sabres lost the game 4-3 to Lindy Ruff's Dallas Stars. On Tuesday, he participated in his first full practice with the Sabres and did some interviews. Wednesday was another practice day, after which, Moulson and the Sabres
chartered to New Jack City. The Sabres play the Rangers tonight inside Madison Square Garden (By the way, it will be Ryan Miller vs. Henrik Lundqvist tonight!)
After today's morning skate inside MSG, Moulson told Mark Hermann of Newsday that as many of his new Sabres teammates headed into lower Manhattan for dinner, Moulson headed to Long Island to spend time with his wife and kids. Moulson said seeing his family "made me miss them a little less". Moulson understands the rigors of the NHL. he knows that it can be an emotional rollercoaster at times. Right now he "realizes its a business. As gut wrenching as it is, you get over it quickly".
Hermann noted that Moulson, a 2014 UFA-to-be, is aware that he might be on the move again as the NHL trade deadline gets closer. Moulson said that he will do the best for the Buffalo Sabres whether its for weeks, months, or years.
Moulson said that his close friend and former centerman John Tavares also visited with the Moulsons at their home.
Moulson kidded that "I had to get my winter coat", suggesting that its colder in Buffalo than it is on Long Island.
Moulson's baby son is too young to fly and will not be able to do so until December. Moulson won't be able to see his family again for a while.
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In a surprising move, Ron Rolston is making super rookie Nikita Zadorov a healthy scratch tonight against the Rangers.
"He needs to be better", Rolston said this morning.
"A lot of aspects, just a lot of details right now , practice and game situations. He needs to get some perspective, you know? With all our players, especially our young guys, we don't want guys getting comfortable".
Comfortable??!! Like playing 20 minutes and dominating in Florida? Is that what Rolston considers "comfortable"? Or scoring his first NHL goal? That kind of comfortable?
Rolston cited the recent scratching of fellow 2013 1st rounder Rasmus Ristolainen as a bit of a wake up call for the rookie. Rolston said that Ristolainen came back refocused and "wasn't taking things for granted".
Do I agree with Rolston's decision to bench arguably his best D-man in the past 5 games? No. Same way that I don't agree with the role that Mikhail Grigorenko is playing this season.
Source: Buffalo News
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